Walther von der Vogelweide

Walther von der Vogelweide (välˈtər fən dĕr fōˈgəlvĪˌdə) [key], c.1170–c.1230, German minnesinger of noble birth, probably the finest lyric poet of medieval Germany. He wandered from court to court singing songs for which he wrote both words and music. In addition he was noted for his Sprüche, or maxims, which were frequently political.